Wrapping machine



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WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1966 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 10, 1970 File P. P. STANLEY ETAL 3,499,263

WRAPPING MACHINE d Nov. 3, 1966 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 March l0, 1970 P. P. STANLEY ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nav. 5, 1966 Mmh 1o, 1970 P. P. STANLEY .-rAL' 3,499,263

Filed Nov WRAPPING MACHINE 12 Sheets-*Sheet 8 P. P. STANLEY ET AL March 410, 1970 WRAPPING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 3, 1966 March 10, 1970 P. P. STANLEY ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Fil Nov. 5. 1966 @Q www Nm@ hmm,

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@19d Nov. s. 196e March `10, 1970 P. P. STANLEY ETAL WRAPPING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Nov. ,v 1966 States rPatent 3,499,263 l WRAPPING MACHINE Peter Paul Stanley, River Forest, and Carl Byrd, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Reichel & Drews, Inc., Chicago, Ill., va corporation of Illinois y Filed Nov. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 591,824

Int. Cl. B65h 1.7/00, 5.7/02; B65g 57/00 U.S. Cl. 53-210 v 15 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure deals with an automatic wrapping machine for wrapping a group of articles in a protective sheet and for sealing the sheet about the articles. In each wrapping cycle of the machine, a number of articles are assembled into a group, sheets of dunnage are placed against the ends of the group, a protective sheet is folded about the group `and the dunnage, the sheet is tucked at the ends, and the sheet is sealed with an adhesive. The protective sheet is cut from a supply roll and is vertically suspended in front of an elevator and a vacuum chamber. To fold the sheet about the group, the group is pushed in one direction against the sheet and into the elevator, the elevator is moved upwardly relative to the vacuum chamber, and the group is pushed out of the elevator in the reverse direction. The vacuum chamber creates a drag on the sheet during the folding movements in order to form a tightly wrapped package.

This invention relates to wrapping machines, and more particularly to an automatic wrapping machine for applying and sealing a protective sheet about a group of articles.

l It is an object of the present invention to provide a wrapping machine of the foregoing character, which includes novel means for simultaneously folding a sheet about a group of articles `and holding the sheet taut in order to form a tightly wrapped package.

It is another object to provide a wrapping machine of the foregoing character, which includes novel means for dividing a continuous web into sheets of predetermined length and for vertically suspending the sheets.

`Still another object is to provide a wrapping machine of the foregoing character, which includes novel means for arranging a series of articles into two tiers, each tier comprising a plurality of articles arranged in rows.

Still another object is to provide a wrapping machine of the foregoing character, which includes novel means for positioning a sheet of dunnage at each end of each group 0f articles.

Still another object is to'provide a wrapping -machine of the foregoing character, which includes a novel elevator assembly for folding a 'sheet about a group of articles. H

-Still another object is to provide a wrapping machine of the foregoing character, which includes novel means for folding and sealing the portionsv of the sheet at the ends of a group of articles. p

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: l y

FIG. 1 is a 'perspective View of a wrapping machine embodying the invention; l

FIGS. 2a and 2b are enlarged fragmentary elevational views showing in composite the wrapping'machine;

FIGS.'3a and 3b are enlarged fragmentary elevational views showing in composite a portion of the wrapping machine; v r- 3,499,263 Patented Mar. 10, 1970 FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGS. 3a and 3b;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2b;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of another portion of the machine;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan View taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of another portion of the machine; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing a sheet of wrapping material and a group of articles being wrapped in the various stages of a wrapping cycle.

In general, an automatic wrapping machine embodying the features of the invention is designed to wrap a group of articles in a protective sheet, and to seal the sheet about the articlesto form a rectangular parallelepiped shaped package. Each article may comprise a pair of rolls, each roll having a generally cylindrical shape and made of a relatively yieldable material, a roll of ordinary toilet tissue paper being an example. The articles of a group are arranged in two tiers and each tier includes a plurality of. such articles arranged in rows.

The wrapping machine comprises an input conveyor means for feeding a series of articles into the machine, means for arranging the articles in groups, means for positioning a sheet of dunnage at each end of each group, a folding mechanism for receiving a sheet of wrapping material from a web feed mechanism and folding the sheet tightly around a group of articles and dunnage, and sealing means for applying an adhesive to portions ofthe sheet and sealing the sheet to form a lirm and sturdy package.

The web feed mechanism comprises drive rollers for engaging the web and drawing the web from a supply roll, the drive rollers being periodically actuated in response to a feed control device. The web is cut to form sheets each having a predetermined length, and means is provided for vertically suspending each Sheet at a position where it may be received by the wrapping mechanism.

The wrapping mechanism includes means for pushing a group of articles forwardly against a sheet, under a Vacuum chamber or suction box and into an elevator assembly, the box and the elevator assembly cooperating to fold the sheet across the forward and top sides and part of the bott-om side of the group, and to partially tuck the sheet at the ends of the group. The group is then moved upwardly by thel elevator assembly across the forward side of the suction box, thereby folding the sheet across the rearward side of the group. At an upper level above the vacuum chamber the group is moved rearwardly over the top of the chamber, thereby folding the' sheet across the remainder of the bottom side of the group and causing the ends of the sheet to overlap and be seale'd together. Rearwar-d movement of the group is continued through means for tucking the sheet at the ends of the group and for sealing the tucked portions of the sheets.

' FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrapping machine 30 embodying the features of the invention. The wrapping machine 30 comprises: an input conveyor 31 for feeding articles 32 into the machine to be wrapped; means 33 for arranging a plurality of the articles 32 into tiers and rows to form a group of articles; a dunnage feeder 34 for feeding sheets of dunnage into the machine and positioning a sheet ofdunnage adjacent each end of a group of articles; a wrapping mechanism 35 for manipulating the group of articles and a sheet of wrapping material having a predetermined length such as to fold the sheet about the group of articles; a web feed mechanism 36 for drawing a continuous web 37 from a supply roll 38, dividing the web 37 into predetermined lengths, and suspending each sheet in the wrapping mechanism 35; and

1n end folding and sealing mechanism 39 for creasing and folding the portions of the sheet at the ends of each group of articles and for sealing the folded portions of :he sheet to form completed packages 41. The wrapping nachine 30 further includes a frame 42, drive mechanisms 43 for various moving parts of the wrapping ma- :hine, and a control panel or console 44 which houses :lectrical equipment for controlling the various operations )t the wrapping machine. Part of this electrical equipnent comprises a stepping switch which, as it cycles, actuites a plurality of mechanisms of the wrapping machine :o respectively perform a series of operationsin a preletermined order.

The input conveyor 31 comprises a stand 46 (FIG. l) iaving two side-by-side tracks 47 and 48 thereon, and 1n endless belt 50 carries a row of articles 32 into the nachine on each track. The articles of the two rows are n side-by-side relation, and vertically extending guides t9 are preferably provided at the outsides of the two .racks 47 and 48 to maintain the articles 32 properly )ositioned on the two tracks.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the articles 32 may com- Jrise two rolls of toilet tissue wrapped in a plastic ma- :erial, for example, each of the rolls of toilet tissue having he conventional cylindrical construction and the rolls peing positioned on their side on the belt 50.

With reference to FIGS. l and 2b, the web feed mechmism comprises two laterally 4spaced apart supports 51 Ionly one support 51 being shown in FIG. 1)y fastened :o the main frame 42 of the wrapping machine. At their 1pper ends, the supports 51 rotatably support an arbor 52 which in turn supports the supply roll 38 of the web i7. The web 37 is drawn from the supply roll 38 and vhreaded under idler rollers 53, upwardly and about an dler roller S4 (FIG. 2b), downwardly and under a danc- :r roller 56, through a decurling bar assembly S7 which itraightens the web 37, around a pair of driven pull ollers 58 and 59 which pull the web 37 from the supply -oll 38, downwardly and through a feed control mechaiism 61 which controls the operation of the pull rollers 58 and 59, thence upwardly and around a pair of sheet guides 62, having laterally adjustable flanges 62a for :ontrolling the lateral position of the web, the web travelng between the guides upwardly and over another driven Feed roller 63, between a pair of vertically spaced guides S4, past a web severing mechanism 66 and a web indexng mechanism 67 and to a substantially at horizontal )late 68 (FIG. 9) which supports the paper in a sub- :tantially horizontal plane.

The web 37 is preferably a relatively stiff paper mateial which is obtainable in continuous lengths on a roll. t spaced locations along one edge of the web 37 is laced a series of relatively dark marks which are pro- Iided to actuate a photocell arrangement 86. The marks ire spaced apart a distance .equal to the desired length )f a sheet, and actuation of the photocell arrangement )y each mark causes the web severing mechanism 66 to :ut the paper. The guides 64 prevent buckling of the web, 1nd hold the web in a substantially horizontal plane as it asses the photocell arrangement 86. This is important )ecause buckling of the web might cause unwanted actuttion of the photocell arrangement 86.

'Thefeed control mechanism 61 comprises a frame 71 vhich forms a vertically extending channel or loop chute '2 therein, and a floating roller 73 which is movable verically on suitable guides (not shown). The web 37 is hreaded into the chute 72 from the upper end thereof, lownwardly and underneath the roller 73, and then upvardly to the sheet guides 62. The lateral distance beween the pair of flanges 62a on each guide 62 may be ,djusted to accommodate webs of different width. The eed control mechanism 61 further comprises a photolectric cell arrangement 75 which is positioned at the ower end of the chute 72. In operation, as the supply of veb in the loop chute 72 is being depleted du@ te feeding of the web into the wrapping mechanism, the roller 73 rises upwardly out of the path of the cell arrangement 75. Actuation of the cell arrangement 75 causes engagement of clutch 74 which, when engaged, connects the pull rollers S8 and 59 to a drive motor 76. The motor 76 runs continuously and is connectedbya suitable chain 77 and sprocket arrangement to, drive'the driving portion of the clutch l74. When the clutch 74 is engaged and the rollers 58 and 59 draw additional web 37 from the supply roller 38, the supply of web in the chute 72 `is replenished and the roller 73 moves downwardly until it again breaks the light path of the photoelectric cell arrangement 75, thereby disengaging the clutch 74 and disconnecting the pull rollers 58 and 59 from the drive motor 76. The chain 77 which is driven by* the drive motor 76 also drives a clutch mechanism 78 connected to the feed roller 63, and the clutch mechanism 78 is connected to be alternately engaged and disengaged as the paper is fed into the machine.

The web severing mechanism 66 comprises a lower stationary cutting blade 81 (FIG. 2b) attached by a suitable frame 82 to the main frame 42 of the machineand an upper vertically movable cutting blade 83 fastened by another support member 84 to the main frame of the machine above the blade 81. The web 37 is fed in a horizontal plane between the guides 64 and between the two horizontally extending cutting blades 81 and 83, and when the web severing mechanism is actuated, the upper blade 83 is moved downwardly relative to the lower blade 81 and severs the web between them.

As previously explained, the web 37 is marked at predetermined points along its length. As thel web l37 is being fed between the guides 64, each time one of the marks passes adjacent the photoelectric cell arrangement 86, the clutch 78 is disengaged, the web indexing mechanism 67 is actuated, a web gripping device 87 grips the leading end of the web, and the web is severed by the web serving device 66.

The web indexing device 67 (FIG. 2b) is designedto place a fold or wrinkle in the web after the feed roller 63 has stopped turning and before the web gripping device 87 has been actuated. The device 67 comprises a roller 67a connected to the end of an arm 67b which -is mounted for pivotal movement `about the axis of a laterally extending shaft 67e. The arm 67b may be pivoted by a second arm 67a which extends downwardly from the shaft 67e and is connected to pivot the arm 67b when it is pivoted. The plunger 67e of an air cylinder 677'l is connected by a bracket 67g to pivot lthe arm 67d. Thus, an elongated slot 67h is formed in the bracket 67g and a pin 67i on the arm 67d extends into .the slot 67h.

The weight of the roller 67a and the arm 67b tends to pivot the arms 67b and 67d n the counterclockwise direction, thus tending -to move the roller 67a against the web. The roller 67a is normally held upwardly out of engagement with the web by the plunger 67e which is normallyl retracted into the air cylinder 67f..In-this position, the forward end of the slot 67h engages the pin 671` and holds the arms 67b and 67d inthe positions shown in FIG. 2b. Actuation of the indexing device 67 results when the plunger 67e is forced out of theair cylinder 67f permitting the roller 67a to swing downwardly. The extent of such downward movement is determined by a stop 67]' which is adjustably mounted on a bracket 67k in the path ofthe arm 67d.

The normal position of the roller 67a is above the level of the plate 68 and it swings downwardly through a gap in the plate 68 to a position below the'level of the plate 68. The gap is normally closed to prevent the leading end of the paper from catchingin it, lby a short plate section 67r which normally extends substantially horizontally and has its rearward edge pivotally mounted on the machine by means of a laterally extending shaft 67m. A link 67r: extends between the roller 67a and `the plate secties 671', and when. theroller 67a swings d@WnwatdlyA the link causes the section 67r to swing downwardly also. f

The operation of the indexing ldeviceis as follows: with the roller 67a held upwardly, the web is fed between the roller 67a and the section 67r and onto the plate 68. When a markonr the web reaches the photocell device `66, the web stops and the plunger 67e moves out of the air cylinder. The roller 67a ,and the section 67r swing downwardly, causing a wrinkle to be placed in the web, -until the arm engages the stop 67j. The leading end of the web is pulled forwardly toward the device 67 when the wrinkle is formed. With the wrinkle formed, the cam 67p on the bracket 67g actuates a switch 67q which in turn energizes the web gripping device 87. Thereafter, the web is severed and a pull down apparatus pulls the web from between the roller 67a and the section 67r.

The web feed mechanism 36 further comprises means for vertically suspending each severed sheet from the web gripping mechanism 87, this means comprising six horizontally extending pull down lbars 91a toA 91f and two laterally spaced continuous chains 92, only the chain 92 on the near side of the machine being shown in FIG. 2b. The pull down bars 91a to 91)c are fastened between the two chains 92 at equal intervals along the lengths of the two chains. The chains 92 `are threaded around a pair of drive sprockets 93 and a series of idler rollers 94a to 941' which are located such that the chains extend substantially vertically downward from the forward side of the web gripping mechanism 87 to a location below the wrapping mechanism, forwardly below the console 44, upwardly adjacent the loop chute 72, and then rearwardly to the gripping mechanism 87. The idler roller 94d is spring biased to the left, as Iviewed in FIG. 2b, and serves to tension the chains 92. The drive sprockets 93, are connected .by a chain 96 to a drive motor 97 which moves the chains in intermittent steps in the counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2b. As will be explained hereinafter, at the beginning of each cycle of operation of the machine, a pull down bar is located above the web 37 adjacent the web gripping mechanism at the position of the bar 91a shown in FIG. 2b and after the web severing mechanism 66 has severed the web the chains move the bar 91a downwardly to the position of the pull down bar 91b shown in FIG. 2b, thereby drawing the severed end of the sheet of web downwardly with it. The bar 91f in FIG. 2b simultaneously shifts through the path of the web 37 and assumes the position of the bar 91a in preparation for the next cycle.

With reference to FIG. 9, the web gripping device 87 comprises a roller 98 fastened to an arm 99 which is pivotally mounted on a laterally extending shaft 101. Below the roller 98 is mounted a support bar 102 and plate 103, and the roller 98 may lbe pivoted either to clamp the leading end of a sheet between it and the plate 103 or to open a space therebetween, a shown in FIG. 9, for the insertion of the leading end of a sheet. The roller 98 may be pivoted between these two positions `by an air cylinder 104, for example, having a plunger 106 connected to an arm 107. The arm 107 is connected to pivot the arm 99 about the shaft 101 when the plunger 106 is actuated. f l

In operation, the roller 98 is pivotedV downwardly to clamp the leading end of the web after the leading end has beenv fed between the roller 98 and the'plate 1013 and after the indexing devicel 67 has been actuated. The web is held while .thepull down bar 91a shifts downwardly, drawing the severad end of the vsheet with it and causing the sheet to be suspended vertically from the gripping device 87. The sheet is -not released until the next group of articles is ready to be Wrapped as will be explained. After the sheet has been pulled downwardly and the gripping device 87 has released the sheet, the clutch 78 is engaged to `drive the feed roller 63 and thereby push another portion yof the web between the guides 64 and over the supportl plate 68 to the gripping device 87, the clutch 78 being disengaged after the lead` ing end of the web has entered the gripping device 87.

The means 33 adapted to arrange the articles 32 into groups composed of tiers and rows, comprises a flat, horizontally extending plate (FIGS. 2a, 3a and 3b) which is located at the leading or discharge end of the input conveyor 31. The upper level of the plate 110 is substantially at the level of the upper surface of the belt 50, and movement of the 'belt pushes the articles 32 onto the plate 110 and against a slanted stop 110a located at the far end of the plate 110. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 10, the belt 50 pushes two rows 111 and 112 of the articles onto the plate 110, and there are three articles 32 (each comprising two side-by-side rolls of tissue) in each of the two rows 111 and 112, the articles of the two rows being positioned in end-to-end relation on the plate 110. As shown in FIG. 10, the stop 11011 is slanted forwardly and laterally inwardly from the rearward end of the plate 110, thereby causing the articles in the row 112 to be offset toward the conveyor a short distance relative to the articles in the row 111.

To upend the six articles 32 forming the two rows 111 and 112 in order to form two tiers, the articles are pushed from the plate 110 onto an inclined upending plate 116 (FIGS. 2a, 3b and 10) which slopes forwardly and downwardly from the forward edge of the plate 110. The articles 32 are pushed onto the upending plate 116 by a longitudinally movable pusher 117 which is adapted to sweep across the upper surface of the plate 110.

The pusher 117 is moved to sweep longitudinally across the surface of the plate 110 by an air cylinder 118 and a plunger 119 (FIG. 3a). The cylinder 118 is fastened to the frame of the machine `by two cross braces 120, and the plunger 119 is movable longitudinally of the machine and extends from both ends of the cylinder 118, the pusher 117 being secured to the forward end of the plunger 119. To the rearward end of the longitudinally movable plunger 119 is secured a cam mounting angle 121 which is secured to and movable longitudinally of the machine with the plunger 119. Fastened to the angle 121 by a clamp 122 is a switch cam 123 which is adapted to engage and actuate a limit switch 124 when the plunger 119 and the pusher 117 are moved toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3a. Further, a pair of rods 126, one on each side of the cylinder 118, are provided to guide the movement of thepusher 117. The tie rods 126 are slidably supported on the mounting plates and are secured to the angle 12-1 and to the rearward side of the pusher 117.

As the articles 32 are moved from the input conveyor 31 onto the plate 110, they are pushed by succeeding articles across the plate 110 in front of the pusher 117, and at the far side of the plate 110 is located two limit switches (not shown) mounted adjacent the stop l10n which, when both are engaged by the leading articles of the two rows, causes the cylinder 118 to move the plunger 119 and the pusher 117 forwardly. The two limit switches are connected in series and one limit switch is located in the path of each row of articles, so that there must be three articles in each of the rows on the plate 110 before the limit switches will be simultaneously energized and cause the pusher 117 to move forwardly. The forward movement of the pusher 117 is stopped when the cam 123 engages and actuates the limit switch 124, such actuation causing the cylinder 118 to reverse the direction of the movement of the plunger 119 and retract the plunger 119 to the position shown in FIG. 3a.

While the plunger 117 is sweeping forwardly across the plate 110, the belt 50 of the conveyer 31 still urges articles 32 toward the plate 110, and to hold the articles back while the pusher 117 is sweeping across the plate 110, a vertical side portion 127 (FIG. 3a) of the pusher 117 adjacent the input conveyor 31 is extended rearwardly and forms a stop which holds the articles on the input conveyor back until the pusher 117 has been returned to its earward position. The previously described offset of the lrticles of the two rows due to the slant of the stop 110a :liminates the chance that either the pusher 117 or an aricle in the row 111 will catch on the article in the row L12, which is still on the conveyor 31 but is next in line o be pushed onto the plate 110.

After the articles have been pushed from the plate 110 o the upender plate 116, the upender plate 116 is piv- )ted in the clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2a 1nd 3b, about the axis of a shaft 131 in order to swing he articles on the plate 116 upwardly and forwardly and )osition them on the upper surface of an accumulator plate L32. The upender plate 116 is rigidly secured to the shaft L31, and the shaft 131 is pivotally mounted on two )rackets 130 (FIG. 3b). The mechanism for rotating the ihaft 131 and the plate 116 comprises a cam follower L32 and an edge cam 133, the follower 132 engaging the :dge of the cam 133 and being attached to an arm 134 vhich is rigidly secured to one end of the shaft 131. The :am 133 includes a horizontal longitudinally extending lpper edge portion 136 and a curved portion 135 which :lopes downwardly from the rearward end of the portion L36. When the follower 132 is in engagement with the porion 135, the plate 116 is in the inclined position shown in HG. 3b and the arm 134 slants downwardly and rearvardly from the shaft 131. The plate 116, the brackets L30, and the shaft 131 are mounted on a slide plate 137 vhich is movable longitudinally of the machine, and when he plate 137 is moved in the forward direction, the cam 'ollower 132 is forced to swing upwardly about the axis )f the shaft 131, such swinging movement causing the )late 116 to swing upwardly and forwardly and assume a iulbstantially vertical position.

With reference to FIG. 4, the slide plate 137 may be :aused to move in a longitudinal direction by a link 138 vhich has one end connected to the plate 137 and its )ther end connected to a crank arm 139. A drive mechlnism 140 (FIGS. 3a and 4) is provided for rotating the :rank arm 139 about the vertical axis of a shaft 141, such otation of the crank arm 139 causing the link 138 and he slide plate 137 to move in the longitudinal direction. Fhus, after two rows of articles have been deposited on he upending plate 160 as shown in dashed lines in FIG. la, the mechanism 140 is energized to rotate the crank arm L39. When the crank arm 139 rotates 180 about the shaft L41, the slide plate 137 moves forwardly sufficiently to )ivot the plate 116 upwardly and stand the two rows of lrticles on end on the accumulator plate 132. The forvard movement of the slide plate 137 is just suicient to aise the follower 132 to the rearward end of the straight )ortion 136 of the cam 133.

As succeeding articles are placed on the accumulator )late 132, they push the preceding articles forwardly and Lgainst a gate device 141. The gate device 141 includes a )lurality of laterally spaced lingers 142 which, in the ab- :ence of articles on the accumulator plate 132, extend verically downwardly from a shaft 143. The fingers 142 may )e pivoted about the axis of the shaft 143, and as the rrticles are pushed onto the accumulator plate 132 they )ear against the ngers 142 and swing the fingers 142 forvardly and upwardly. The principal purpose of the ngers L42 is to bear against the forwardmost articles and pre- /ent them from toppling over as subsequent articles are Jushed onto the accumulator plate 132.

With reference to FIG. 5, the fingers 142 are normally irged to a vertical position by the counterweight 144 fas- :ened to the lower end of chain 146, the upper end of the :hain 146 being connected to a sprocket 147 secured to :he shaft 143. The disposition of the chain 146 on the procket 147 is such as to urge the fingers 142 to the ver- ;ical position, and the chain 146 is wound up on the iprocket 147 as the fingers 142 are swung upwardly due :o movement of the (article against the fingers). The gate levice 141 further includes an electric brake 148 connected between one end of the shaft 143 and the frame,

and the brake 148 is designed to produce a restraining force to prevent the fingers 142 from bouncing. The gate device 141 further includes an air cylinder 149 connected to the other end of the shaft 143, the air cylinder 149 being actuated to hold the shaft 143 in a position where the ngers 142 extend horizontally forwardly from the shaft 143 while the articles are being pushed forwardly from the accumulator plate 132.

As previously stated, as the articles are pushed out onto the accumulator plate 132, the succeeding articles push the preceding articles forwardly along the plate underneath the displaced fingers 142. After four rows of articles have been pushed onto the plate 132, the forwardmost of the articles interrupts the light beam of a photoelectric device 151 (FIG. 3b). When the light beam of the device 151 is interrupted, a sheet of dunnage is positioned at each side of the group of articles by the dunnage feeders 34, and the upender plate 116 is held in a vertical plane and is moved forwardly to push the group of articles into an elevator 152 (FIG. 2b). The photoelectric device 151 is mounted on a longitudinally extending shaft and its position on the shaft 152 may be adjusted longitudinally of the machine, so that the location of the articles when the photoelectric cell device 151 is actuated may be adjusted. v

As previously stated, when the photocell device 151 is actuated, the plate 116 is held vertically and is moved forwardly. This is accomplished by rotating the crank arm 139 180 from the position shown in FIGS. 3a and 4 holding it momentarily in this position. With the plate 116 in the vertical position, a second crank 153 is rotated by another drive mechanism 153:1, the crank 153 being connected to move the slide plate 137 and the upender plate 116 forwardly. The crank 153 is connected to the slide plate 137 by a connecting rod 153b, a lever 154 and a throw rod 156. The connecting rod 153b is connected between the end of the crank 153 and an intermediate location on the lever 154, while the throw rod 156 is connected between an end of the lever 154 and the slide plate 137. The other end of the lever 154 is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine, as at 155. As shown in FIG. 4, a rotation of the crank arm 151 causes the lever 154 to swing between the solid and dashed line locations. When in the solid line position of the lever 154, the slide plate 137 is in a retracted position and the plate 116 swings back and forth to place articles on the accumulator plate 132, as previously described. When the crank arm 151 is rotated 180 to place the lever 154 at the dashed line position in FIG. 4, the slide plate 137 and the plate 116 are pushed forwardly. The plate 116 is held in a substantially vertical plane because the cam follower 132 rides along the longitudinally extending edge portion 136 of the cam 133 and is at the level of the shaft 131. Continued movement of the crank arm 151 through another 180 returns the slide plate 137 and the plate 116 to their retracted positions.

As mentioned, while the group of articles are still on the accumulator plate 132 and before the plate 116 is moved forwardly, a sheet of dunnage is positioned at each side of the group of articles by the dunnage feeder 34 (FIGS. l, 2b and 5) which comprises a feeder unit 161 (FIG. 5) at each side of the machine. Each unit 161 cornprises a magazine 162 which is designed to receive a vertical stack of corrugated sheets of dunnage 160. Across the lower end of the magazine 162 is provided a conveyor 163 including a pair of laterally spaced chains 164 which are trained around sprockets 166 and 167. The drive sprockets 166 rotate the chains 164 of the right hand unit 161 (FIG. 5) in the counterclockwise direction. At least one cleat 168 extends between and is connected to the chains 164 and, as the cleat 168 sweeps downwardly and laterally inwardly below the magazine 162, it engages one sheet of dunnage and moves the sheet of dunnage into the machine. Rotation of the drive sprockets 166 is ac- 9 complished by a drive chain 169 and a drive sprocket 171 which derives its power from the main drive of the machine.

At the lower end of the feeder 163 is positioned a dunnage upender plate formed in two sections I172 and 173. In the position of the sections 172 and 173 shown in FIG. the upper surfaces of the sections 172 and 173 are in the same plane as the upper surface of the conveyor 163, and the conveyor pushes sheets of dunnage onto the sections 172 and 173. The numeral 174 in FIG. 5 indicates a sheet of dunnage on the sections 172 and 173. After a group of articles has been accumulated on the accumulator plate 132, the sections 172 and 173 are pivoted upwardly and laterally inwardly to position the sheets 174 of dunnage at the sides of the articles. Since a dunnage upender is provided at each side of the machine and since they move equal distances laterally inwardly, it will be apparent that the dunnage upenders also serve to cornpress and center the group of articles on the accumulator plate 132.

The sections 172 and 173 of each unit are actuated to swing upwardly and laterally inwardly by a mechanism including a cam follower 176 and a cam 177, the cam 177 being secured to the machine and the follower 176 being in engagement with the cam 177 and fastened to a slider 175 which supports the sections 172 and 173 of the dunnage upender. As shown in FIG. 5, the cam follower 177 of the unit 161at the right hand side of the machine, slopes generally upwardly and then curves laterally inwardly toward the center of the machine. The sections 172 and 173 are pivotally connected by a shaft 179 to the slider 175 which also carries the cam follower 176. From FIG. 5, it will be apparent that if the slider 175 carrying the shaft 179 of each unit 161 is moved laterally of the machine, the cam follower l176 will swing the sections 172 and 173 upwardly and the sections 172 and 173 will be held in substantially vertical planes while moving laterally inwardly of the machine. The sheets of dunnage 174 held by the sections will be pressed tightly against the sides of the group of articles and the group will be centered on the plate 132.

The two dunnage feeder units 161 are adapted to be simultaneously actuated by means of an air cylinder 181 which is connected by suitable linkages to the slider 175 of each unit. The cylinder 181 is secured to the frame of the machine at 182 and its plunger 183 is connected to one end of a lever 184 (FIG. 5). The center of the lever 184 is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine as at 185, and its other end is connected by a link 186 to the slider 175 at the left in FIG. 5. This slider `175 is mounted for lateral movement on the machine by means of guides 188. The slider 175 of the other unit is mounted on guides 192, and this slider is connected by a link 193 to a second lever 194. The upper end of the lever 194 is connected to the link 193 while the lower end of the lever 194 is pivotally mounted at 196 on the frame of the machine, and the lever 194 is also connected by a link 197 to the lever 184. When the plunger 183 is drawn into the cylinder 181, the sliders 175 simultaneously move inwardly, and when the plunger 183 is forced out of the air cylinder 181 the two sliders I175 are moved laterally outward. The links 186 and 193 are yieldably connected to the associated sliders 175 by lsprings 195 which compensate for differences of the lateral width of groups of articles. l

To make certain that the upender plate 116 (FIGS. 4 and 5) engages the two sheets of dunnage but does not contact the dunnage upenders when the plate sweeps forwardly across the accumulator plate 132, laterally outwardly extending tabs 198 and 199 are formed at the sides of the upender plate 1116, thesetwo tabs 198 and 199 engaging the edges of the sheets of dunnage. To prevent interference between the tabs 198 and 199 and the upender plates of the dunnage feeder, each plate is formed in the two sections 172 and 173 as previously explained, and the two sections 172 and 173 are spaced apart sufliciently far that the tabs 198 and 199 are able to pass between them. The relative positions of the tabs 198 and 199 and the sections 172 and 173 are shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5, the dashed lines showing them in the portion of a wrapping cycle when the dunnage upender plates have positioned sheets of dunnage against the sides of a group of articles and the plate 116 is pushing the group of articles and the sheets of dunnage forwardly -intothe elevator 152.

As previously explained, when the pull down bar 91a moves downwardly it draws a sheet of web with it and causes the sheet to be suspended from the web gripping or clamping device 87. The sheet extends from the gripping device 87 downwardly past a glue applicator 211 (FIG. 9), between the rearward side of a suction box or vacuum chamber 212 anda guide plate 213, past the rearward side of fthe elevator 152, and between a downwardly extending flange 214 on the elevator and the lower end of the guide 213. With reference to FIG. 9, the guide 213 extends substantially vertically adjacent the vacuum chamber 212, and just below the vacuum chamber 212 is formed a bend 215 in the guide 213, the guide 213 slanting downwardly and forwardly from the bend 215. The lower end of the sheet and the pull down bar 91b are located between the flange 214 and the lower end of the guide 213, and the lower end of the sheet is looped about the underside of the pull down bar 91b, as indicated at 215a in FIGS. 2b and 10. The elevator 152 is vertically movable between a lower position, shown in full lines in FIG. 2b and dashed lines in FIG. 6, and an upper position shown in full lines in FIG. 6'. When the elevator is in the lower position, a group of articles may be pushed by the upender plate 116 against a sheet which is hung in front of the elevator 152, and into the elevator 152. The center portion of the guide 213 must of course have an opening formed therein to permit the group of articles to be pushed from the accumulator plate 132 into the elevator 152. Just before lthe group of articles is pushed against the sheet, the gripping device 87 releases the end of the sheet. The isheet is nevertheless held suspended above the path of the articles by the Vacuum chamber 212 which grips the sheet. As the group of articles is being pushed against the sheet and toward the elevator, the vacuum chamber holds the sheet taut above the group while the loop 215a holds the sheet taut below the group. Thus, the sheet is prevented from slipping in either direction relative to the group during the initial movement of the group and the sheet into the elevator.

It will be recalled that the indexing device 67 is actuated to place a fold or Wrinkle in the sheet just before the device 87 grips the leading end of the Web. When the wrinkle is formed, the clutch 78 is deenergized and the web is held by the feed roller 63. Consequently, the leading end of the web is pulled back due to the formation of the wrinkle before the leading end of the web is gripped by the device 87, and the amount by which the web is pulled back determines the location of the overlap on the underside of the finished package, as will be explained hereinafter.

With reference to FIGS. 2b, 6 and 7, the elevator 152 comprises two side walls 216 and 217 which are laterally yieldable on the frame 218 of the elevator, a bottom wall 219, and a top wall 220. The two side walls 216 and 217 are mounted for lateral movement relative to the frame 218 by a parallel linkage arrangement which maintains the inner surfaces of the side walls in substantially parallel planes during their lateral movement. Each of the side walls 216 and 217 is connected to the frame by links 222 (FIG. 7), one end of each of the links being connected to a vertically extending shaft 223 and the other end of each link 222 being connected to the outside of the side wall. Springs 225 are also pro vided to spring bias the side walls laterally inwardly. 1`he inner surfaces 221 of the two side walls 216 and 217 are shaped to tuck the portion of the sheet which extends laterally outwardly from the forward side of a group 3f articles, against the ends of the group. To this end, he rearwardmost portion of each of the side walls 216 and 217 has a relatively small vertical dimension and It slopes laterally outward from the remainder of the side wall, as indicated at 224. From the portion 224, each surface 221 gradually increases in its vertical dimension 1nd slopes laterally inwardly and forwardly, and then extends longitudinally of the machine in a vertical plane. l'he maximum vertical dimension of each side wall is slightly less than the vertical height of a group of articles.

As shown in FIGS. 2b and 6, the rearward end of the top wall 220 curves rearwardly and upwardly as iniicated at 226, the curve serving to guide the group of articles into the interior of the elevator 152 and to form a. relatively smooth bend in the sheet of paper.

With reference to FIGS. 2b and 6, the bottom wall 219 of the elevator 152 includes a longitudinally movable belt 231 which is trained around three idler rollers 232 on the frame of the elevator 152. A laterally extending :leat 233 is secured to the upper surface of the belt 231 within the elevator 152, and when a group of articles is pushed into the elevator, the lower forward comer of the group of articles engages the cleat 233 and pushes it forwardly, thereby causing rotational movement of the belt 231 in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 6. Thereafter, as will be explained hereinafter, the elevator ['52 is moved upwardly to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 6 and a pusher or plunger moves in the rearward direction and engages the forward side of the cleat 233 and the forward side of the group of articles and pushes the cleat and the group of articles in the rearward direction. Thus, the cleat 233 and the belt 231 shift reciprocally and longitudinally of the machine within the elevator as the groups of articles are pushed into and aut of the elevator 122.

The elevator 152 is guided in its vertical movement Jy two vertically extending posts 2316 (FIGS. 6 and 7) at each side of the elevator 152 adjacent the outside of ;he side walls 216 and 217, and the frame 218 of the :levator 152 is connected to the posts 236 by bearings 237. To move the elevator 152 vertically, two connecting 'ods 238 are pivotally connected between the frame 218 3f the elevator 152 and a pair of cranks 239 at the sides )f the elevator. The two cranks 239 are secured to opposite ends of a laterally extending shaft 241 (FIG. 7) which is turned by a power supply unit 242, rotation of :he shaft 241 causing rotation of the cranks 239 and eciprocating motion of the two connecting rods 238 coniected between the cranks 239 and the elevator. The unit 2.42 includes a drive motor, a clutch to connect the motor :o the shaft 241, and a brake for suddenly stopping movenent of the shaft 241 and the crank arms 239. A cam Jox 24261 is connected by a chain 242b to be driven rom the shaft 241, and after each energization of the irive motor and 180 rotation of the crank arms 239, the :am box 242a disengages the clutch and applies the brake o stop rotation of the crank arms. When the cranks 239 :xtend vertically upwardly from the shaft 241, the eleva- ;or 152 is at its uppermost position, shown in full lines .n FIG. 6, and when the crank 239 is rotated 180 from ,he position shown in FIG. 6, the elevator 152 is shifted lownwardly to the position shown in dashed lines in ?IG. 6.

A counterbalancing mechanism is also provided to :ounterbalance the weight of the elevator, comprising a veight 243 (FIGS. 6 and 7) secured to the lower ends )f a pair of chains 244, the upper ends of the chains 244 Jeing secured to the top of the frame of the elevator 152.v

l`he weight 243, which may be a cylindrical bar, is verti- :ally movable in a guide channel 256, and when the elevator is in its upper position the weight 243 is located at the lower end of the channel 246, and when the elevator 152 is in its lowermost position the weight 243 is shifted upwardly to the location indicated by the numeral 243a. From the weight 243, the chains 244 extend upwardly and are trained around idler rollers 247 and 248 located above the elevator 152.

The suction box or Vacuum chamber 212 (FIGS. 2b, 6 and 9) extends laterally of the machine and comprises a hollow chamber formed by a wall 249 having a plurality of small holes 250 formed therethrough on the forward, rearward, top and bottom sides thereof. The interior of the vacuum chamber is conected by a conduit 251 to an air pump 251a (FIG. 1) at the top of the machine, thereby causing air to be drawn into the interior of the vacuum chamber through the holes 250. The purpose of the vacuum chamber is to cooperate with the elevator 152 to fold the sheet around the group of articles, and, in addition, the suction produced by the air being drawn into the interior of the vacuum chamber causes the portion of the sheet which engages the vacuum chamber to be held taut in order to produce a tightly wrapped package.

lust before a group of articles is pushed into the elevator 152, the web gripping device 87 releases the upper end of the sheet and the upper end is pulled downwardly through the glue applying device 211 (FIG. 9). The device 211 includes a pan 256 which is filled with a liquid adhesive and a rotatable feed roller 257 which is partially submersed in the adhesive. The roller 257 is continuously rotated by a suitable drive, and the outer surface of the feed roller 257 is periodically-engaged by a glue applying roller 261. The roller 261 is pivotally connected to one end of a pivotally mounted link 262 on the rearward side of the path of the pull down bars and the sheet. On the forward side of the path of the pull down bars and the sheet is located a pair of pressure rollers 263 which are rotatably mounted on a link 264, the link 264 in turn being pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine. A suitable actuator, such as an air cylinder, is provided to pivot the two links 262 and 264 simultaneously when the trailing end of the sheet passes between the roller 261 and the two rollers 263, such actuation causing the roller 261 to swing in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 9, and the two rollers 263 to swing in the clockwise direction or toward the roller 261. Such swinging movement of the rollers 261 and 263 brings the roller 261 into engagement with the trailing end of the sheet and it applies glue to this end.

After a group of articles has been pushed into the elevator 152, the cranks 239 turn and lift the elevator 152 upwardly to the solid line position shown in FIG. 6. Thereafter, a pusher plate 271 (FIG. 2b) moves rearwardly and passes through the interior of the elevator 152 and pushes the group of articles out of the elevator and on an output conveyor 272 (FIG. 8) of the end folding and sealing mechanism 39. The pusher plate 271 is secured to the rearward end of a longitudinally extending shaft 273 which is mounted for longitudinal movement on the frame of the machine and is adapted to be moved longitudinally by a suitable mechanism 274 in order to push the group of articles from the elevator each time the elevator arrives at the uppermost position. As the pusher plate 271 pushes the articles from the elevator 152, the articles slide over the top of the vacuum chamber 212 which draws the sheet tightly across the bottom side of the group of. articles.

The push plate 271 engages both the forward sides of the package and the cleat as it pushes the package rearwardly from the elevator. Since the cleat is moved rearwardly the belt also turns and the portion of the belt below the package moves rearwardly at the same rate as the package. Consequently, the portion of the sheet which was folded under the group of articles when the group was pushed into the elevator, does not tend to re- 13 main stationary' and therefore buckle as the group of articles is pushed rearwardly, as might be the case if the bottom side of the elevator were formed by a stationary plate.

It is necessary for the pusher plate 271 to disengage the cleat `when the cleat reaches the rearward end of the elevator, so that the pusher plate 271 may continue to push thepackage completely out of the elevator. Such disengagement is accomplished by making the portion of the pusherplate 271, which engages the cleat in the form of a shoe 275 (FIG. 2b) which may pivot about a pin 276 out of engagement with the cleat. The shoe 275 is normally held by a trip 277 in a position where it extends downwardly from the remainder of the plate and engages the cleat. The trip 277 is pivotally mounted at 278 behind the pusher'plate 271, and a connecting rod 279 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the trip. The rod 279 extends forwardly and is pivotally connected to a bell crank 280 mounted on the shaft 273. A cam 280:1 secured to the frame of the machine is designed to swing the bell crank 280 and the trip 277 in the counterclockwise direction when the plate 271 has moved rearwardly to the opening of the elevator. The trip 277 then moves out of engagement with the shoe 275, and a spring 280b snaps the shoe 275 upwardly out of engagement with the cleat. When the pusher plate 271 is subsequently moved forwardly, the bell crank 280 moves olf of the cam 280a, and another spring 280C tends to pivot the bell crank 280 andthe trip 277 in the clockwise direction. When the plate 271 reaches its forwardmost position, the shoe 27S is swung downwardly against the action of the spring 280b by a holder 280d fastened to the frame of the machine, and the trip 277 again holds the shoe in this downward position.

As previously mentioned, the indexing device 67 is operative to pull the leading end of the sheet rearwardly a short distance before the leading end is clamped by the gripping means 87. VThe amount of pull back determines the relative lengths of the portions of the sheet on opposite sides of the gripping device, and, therefore, the longitudinal location of the point of overlap, or the seam, on the underside of the package. The location of the seam should be adjustedso that it does not interfere with the tucked portions of the sheet at the forward and rearward sides of the package.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the conveyor 282 comprises a at horizontal plate 280, a plurality of ights 281, and a pair of driven endless chains 281a at the sides of the plate 280. As the chains are driven, the flights 281 sweep rearwardly over the upper surface of the plate 280. As soon as a group of articles is pushed onto the plate 280, a flight 281 moves up behind the group of articles and pushes the group of articles rearwardly or from right to left as seen in FIG. 8. Adjacent the forward end of the mechanism 39 is provided a pair of folding shoes 282, one shoe being located at each side of the conveyor belt 272 and being adapted to finish tucking the sheet against the dunnage at the ends of the group of articles. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the inner side of each shoe 282, which engages the sheet, ares laterally outwardly and in the forward direction, and the vertical height 'of each shoe 282'gradually increases from its forward end. Thus, as a group of articles is pushed rearwardly or from right'to left, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the vertical portions of the sheet which extend laterally outwardly from the-rearward side of the group of articles is vtucked against the ends of the-group of articles by the shoes' 282.

To accommodate groups of articles of slightly different lateral width, the two shoes 282 are made laterally adjustable and are spring urged laterally inwardly toward each other. Each shoe 282 is mounted. on a-frame 283 which in turn is pivotally 'mounted on an arm-284 (FIGS. 8"and 9). 'The other `end'of'the arm 284 is pivotally mounted at 286 on the frame ofthe machine, and aspring 287 is connected to each arm 284 and biases the arm such that the associated shoe 282 tends to move laterally inwardly. The minimum lateral distance between the two shoes 282 in the absence of a group of articles is normally less than the lateral width of the group, and when a group of articles is moved rearwardly between the shoes the rearward side of the group of articles engages the ared surfaces of the two shoes and spreads the two shoes apart.

The flaps or tabs of the sheet, which extend horizontally from the upper and lower sides of the group of articles, are creased by means comprising, at the lower side of the group, a plate 291 which extends horizontally below the lower side of each shoe 282, and, at the upper side of the group, a roller 292 which is located just above each shoe. The bottom and top sides 293 and 294 of each shoe 282 extend substantially horizontally, and the bottom side 293 is spaced a short distance above the plate 291. As the group of articles moves rearwardly, the bottom ap is pressed into the narrow space between the plate 291 and the bottom wall 293 of the shoe 282 and is creased thereby. Each roller 292 is rotatably mounted on a longitudinally extending bar 296 located above the associated shoe 282. Spaced forwardly from each roller 292 are a plurality of smaller rollers 297 which are also supported by the associated bar 296, and the relatively small rollers 297 guide the upper. ap into the narrow space between the roller 292 and the upper side 294 of the shoe 282. Thus, the flap at the upper side of the package is creased by the roller 292 and the Hap at the lower side is creased between the shoe and the plate 291.

From the shoes 282 and creasers, the package is moved rearwardly of the machine to a pair of glue applying devices 301 which apply a liquid glue to the underside of the upper ap at each side of the package, and to a pair of package width sensing wheels 302 (FIG. 8) at each side of the machine. Each glue applying device 301 comprises a pan 303 which is partially filled with a liquid adhesive or glue, a roller 304 which extends partially into the glue in the pan 303, and two pressure rollers 306 which are rotatably mounted above the glue applicator roller 304. A drive motor is connected by a sprocket 306a and chain 30Gb arrangement to turn the glue applicator roller 304, causing the entire outer periphery of the roller 304 to become coated with the glue. As the package is moved rearwardly of the machine on the plate 280, each upper flap passes between the roller 304 and the two pressure rollers 306, the lower side of the upper flap engaging the roller 304 and, consequently, having glue applied thereto. Another shoe 306C is provided adjacent each glue applicator device to prevent the folds at the ends of the package from catching on the glue applying devices.

The output conveyor further includes a lower folding shoe 307 and an upper folding shoe 308 at each side of the conveyor belt 272, the two folding shoes being laterally adjustable and their positions controlled by the sensing wheel 302. With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, each lower folding shoe 307 extends longitudinally of the machine at the side of the plate 280 and is adapted to fold the lower horizontally extending flap upwardly and inwardly before the upper folding shoe 308 turns the upper glue coated flap downwardly over the top of the lower flap. The lower folding shoe 307 is mounted for lateral movement on an arm 309 (FIG. 8) which is pivotally connected to the frame of the machine by a pin 311. Another arm 312 is pivotally connected to the pin 311 and is secured to the arm 309 so that, when the arm 312 is turned about the axis of the pin 311, the other arm 309 will also turn and swing the lower shoe '307 inwardly and outwardly, the shoe 307 being pivotally connected to the laterally inner end of the arm 309. The upper folding shoe 308 at each side of the machine is pivotally connected to another arm 313 which is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine by means of a pin 314. Another arm 316 is pivotally mounted on the pin 314 and s secured to the arm 313, the outer end of the arm 316 )eing pivotally connected to the plunger 318 and an air :ylinder 319., and the two arms 312 and 316 are pivotally :onnected together by a connecting rod 321. The air :ylinder 319 is mounted on the machine by a bracket i19a, and the plunger 318 is rigidly connected by an arm i19b to the plunger 319C of a hydrocheck arrangement i190'. The flow of liquid between the hydrocheck 319d md a reservoir (not shown) is controlled by a solenoid tctuated valve (not shown), as will be explained hereintfter. It will be apparent that when the plunger 318 of he cylinder 319 is extended from the cylinder, the arm 516 at the lower portion of FIG. 8 will be pivoted in the :lockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 314, such iivotal movement of the arm 316 also causing the arm 513 to rotate in the clockwise direction and move the ipper shoe 308 laterally inwardly. Simultaneously, the ink 321 moves toward the left when the arm 316 swings n the clockwise direction, movement of the arm 321 :ausing simultaneous clockwise movement of the arms 509 and 312 laterally inward movement of the folding ihoe 307. A similar air cylinder, and hydrocheck arrangenent, and rotatable arms are provided to move the fold- ,ng shoes 307 and 308 at the top of FIG. 8.

The sensing wheel 302 for adjusting the lateral position of the two folding shoes 307 and 308 at each side of the machine is pivotally connected to an arm 326 which in turn is pivotally mounted on a mounting block 327. The block 327 is mounted on the shoe 308 for lateral movement with the lower shoe 307 by means of a brace 325 which extends laterally of the machine and is secured to the underside of the shoe 307 and to the underside of the mounting block 327. A limit switch 328 is also fastened to the mounting block 327, and a finger 329, which is connected to pivot with the arms 326, is located to engage and actuate the limit switch 328 upon pivotal movement of the arm 326 and the finger 329 toward the limit switch 328.

Before each package moving from right to left reaches the sensing wheel 302, the plungers 318 and 319e are retracted into the cylinders 319 and 319d, respectively, and the folding shoes 307 and 308 and the sensing wheel 302 are displaced laterally outward. The air cylinders exert a steady outward pressure against the respective plungers, and as a package approaches the folding shoes 307 and 308, the solenoid actuated valves open and permit the liquid to slowly drain from the cylinders 319d to the reservoirs, thereby permitting the plungers 318 and 319C to simultaneously move outwardly. The folding shoes 307 and 308 and the sensing wheels 302 are thus moved slowly laterally inwardly, and the wheels 302 move inwardly until they engage the ends of the package. Laterally inward movement of the Wheels 302 therefore stops while movement of the mounting blocks 327 continues, causing the arms 327 and the fingers 329 to pivot in the direction of the associated limit switches 328, such relative pivotal movement causing the fingers 329 to engage and actuate the limit switches 328. The switches 328 are electrically connected to close the solenoid actuated valves, thereby locking the plungers 318 and 319C in position and holding the shoes stationary until the package has passed. The folding shoes 307 and 308 are then spaced apart the correct distance to fold the flaps at the ends of the package. As soon as a package has passed, the hydrocheck air cylinders 319 are automatically energized to retract the folding shoes 307 and 308 and the sensing Wheels 302 and then to move them inwardly against as the next package approaches.

After the package is pushed past the top and bottom folding shoes 307 and 308, they are pushed between means for applying pressure to ends of the package to hold the ends under pressure until the glue has set. The pressure applying means on each side of the machine comprises a plurality of vertically spaced V belts 331 which are trained around a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers 332, and as shown in FIG. 2a, each belt 331 rotates in a horizontal plane. Between the two rollers 332 at each side of the machine is provided a plurality of pressure applying rollers 333 which are spring urged laterally inwardly by tension springs 334 (FIG. 8). Each roller 333 is pivotally connected to an arm 336 which is pivotally mounted on the machine at 337, and each spring 334 is connected between one end of the associated arm and the frame of the machine such as to urge the rollers 333 laterally inwardly into the machine. As the package is pushed between the belts 331, the rollers 333 apply inward pressure against the belts 331 which in turn hold the ends of the package under pressure until the glue has set. The sheets of dunnage at the ends of each group of articles 4provides a lirm backing so that the flaps may be passed tghlty between the dunnage and the belts 331. The dunnage further serves to prevent the glue on the top flap from reaching the articles. l

As shown in FIG. 1, the completely wrapped and sealed packages are pushed along the conveyor 372 to the rearward end of the machine where they may be manually removed or permitted to fall into a suitable bin, for example. 1

The operation of the machine will now be summarized with particular reference to FIG. l0. Two rows of the articles 32 are fed into the machine by the input conveyor mechanism 31 and succeeding articles pushed the preceding articles onto the plate 110. After two rows of three articles each have been pushed onto the Plate 110, the plunger 117 moves forwardly and pushes the article from the plate onto the upender plate 116. As soon as the plunger or pusher 117 has retracted, additional articles are fed onto the plate 110 and the plate 116 is pivoted in the clockwise direction, as seen inv FIGS. 2a and 3b, thereby positioning the two rows of articles onto the accumulator plate 132. This action is repeated until four rows of articles have been placed on the accumulator plate 132, succeeding articles pushing the preceding articles forwardly lacross the plate 132. The leading articles engage the fingers 142 of the gate device and swing them in the counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3b, the brake mechanism 148 providing a restraining force to prevent the fingers 142` and the shaft 143 from swinging away from the articles. As soon as a complete group of articles has been formed on the accumulator plate 132, a group of articles comprising two tiers of four rows each, the forwardmost articles interrupt the light beam of a photoelectric cell arrangement 151. The dunnage feederdmechanisms are then energized to position a sheet of dunnage against each end of the group of articles and, at the same time, to automatically center the group of articles on the accumulator plate 132.This is the third step shown in FIG. l0. The upender plate 116 is then 'pushed forwardly'of the machine while being held in the vertical position and pushes the articles forwardly from the plate 132 and against a sheet of the web which at that time is suspended from the gripping device 87 in front of the vacuum chamber 212 and in front of the elevator 152. The group of articles being pushed for,- wardly engages the sheet, and the group of articles and the sheet are then forced into the interior of the elevator 152, the folding shoes at the sides of the elevator tucking the portion of the sheet at the leading side of the group of articles against the ends of the group. A portion of the sheet which originally hung below the level of the group of articles is folded upwardly against the underside of the group, while the portion of the sheet which originally extended `above the. group of articles is drawn across the rearward face of the vacuum chamber 212, and the suction produced by the chamber 212 creates a drag on the sheet and thereby holds the sheet straight and undel tension While the group of articles and a portion of the sheet are being pushed to the elevator. v

As soon as the group of articles has been pushed into the elevator, the crank arms 239 rotate and move the 

